KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Jamaica Coalition for Tobacco Control (JCTC) says the importation and sale of e-cigarettes in Jamaica should be banned.

Electronic or e-cigarettes are a type of electronic nicotine delivery system (ENDS), which do not burn or use tobacco leaves, but vapourise a solution that is then inhaled.

But according to JCTC e-cigarettes are not safe and may cause irreversible lung damage and lung disease.

“The total impact on health of e-cigarettes is unknown, but e-cigarette use is associated with lung disease and death. Studies show dangerously high levels of the carcinogen pulegone in menthol-flavoured e-cigarettes,” JCTC said in a statement today.

The agency noted that illness associated with e-cigarettes has been associated with flavoured e-cigarettes and vaping liquid mixed with marijuana.

“Second-hand exposure to vaping may also prove harmful, as vaping aerosol may contain flavourings such as chemical diacetyl, which is linked to serious irreversible lung disease; the cancer-causing chemical formaldehyde, and ultrafine particles that can be inhaled deep into the lungs,” JCTC said.

“In light of reported deaths and major lung diseases associated with the use of e-cigarettes, the JCTC believes that smokers will obtain the maximum health benefit by complete cessation of all tobacco and nicotine,” JCTC added.